How Long Does It Take to Build a Home in Lake Oconee, GA

Heather Wojtas
December 16, 2024
lakecountry, dream home, lake oconee, lakeoconee
2 Comments

Considering how beautiful and prosperous Lake Oconee, GA, really is, it's not a big surprise that more people are looking at custom home design inspiration, the custom home building process, and the best custom home builders in Lake Oconee, GA.

Building a new home in a rapidly growing area such as Lake Oconee, GA, is the best way to get all the amenities you want in a house and a community. Yet the most trusted custom home builders are often booked months and years in advance. This isn’t always the case, but it is a common occurrence, especially when it comes to constructing a custom lakefront home in Lake Oconee.

So, you need to be realistic about your expectations surrounding bringing our dream home design in Lake Oconee to life, and we’re here to help. If you’re eager to live in Lake Oconee, you’ll need to know how long you should expect the home-building process timeline to take. In this blog, our Lake Oconee home builders have discussed how long it takes to build a Lake Oconee custom home design.

Building on Lake Oconee: A Background

Lake Oconee, Georgia, was created in 1979 when the Wallace Dam was constructed on the Oconee River. This engineering feat created a sprawling reservoir lake and transformed the surrounding land into a desirable recreation, living, and investment destination.

Over the years, the region has evolved into a coveted area known for its unique mix of natural beauty, outdoor activities, and upscale living. Enveloped by lush National Forest land, Lake Oconee is a haven for nature enthusiasts, with hiking, fishing, and boating among the most popular activities. The area also boasts world-class golf courses, luxury resorts, and a thriving community, making it an ideal location for custom home building.

The lake, owned by Georgia Power, remains largely undeveloped along its banks, preserving its pristine charm and offering stunning water views. These views and the many amenities and recreational activities have made it a prime location for custom homes that balance modern amenities with a serene lifestyle.

How Long Does It Take to Build a House?

Before you can fully embark on the beautiful journey of designing a custom home and exploring custom home-building ideas, you must first learn how long it takes to build a house.

Construction in Georgia's Lake Country tends to follow the national average home-building timeline. The U.S. Census collects data on new construction, and the 2024 figures show that most residential work built for owners was completed in 4 to 9 months.

However, the exact duration can vary based on factors such as the home's size, design complexity, weather conditions, and the efficiency of the construction process. Your builder should help you understand your timeline and what you can do to avoid delays.

The Home Building Timeline

To better understand why homes take four to nine months or longer to build in Lake Oconee, you must learn more about the home-building timeline. The Home Building timeline, also known in construction as the schedule, is a complex and dynamic schedule with many interrelated predicates.

The building process is often referred to as having a domino effect. If one phase is delayed, it causes another to be delayed. That is why it’s essential to prepare each milestone in the timeline in anticipation of potential delays, allowing for the smooth navigation of these delays and keeping the process moving forward.

Here is a list of significant milestones that can cause delays that you should be aware of before designing a dream home in Lake Oconee:

Pre-construction involving design and engineering, budget, selections, and prep for long-lead-times
Site preparation like clearing, grading, and excavation for foundations and basements
Securing pre-construction permits, community association approval, and installation of any septic or well systems needed.
The foundation works to create a slab, crawlspace, basement, or pier base for the home.
Framing and sheathing to create the skeleton of the structure, including roofing.
Mechanical equipment and significant home systems installation like electrical, heating, and cooling.
Exterior façade work, such as the installation of siding or stucco.
Insulating and finishing the interiors with drywall, flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and other materials.
Final finishing work, including painting, trim installation, punch work, and a clean sweep.

5 Ways to Stay on Time with Home Construction

When designing a lakefront home in Georgia Lake Country, it's a good idea to learn how to stay on time during the home construction process. Below, we’ve detailed how you can stay ahead of the game and keep your Georgia Lake Country custom home construction on track:

Work With A Lake Oconee Builders Association Member

You’ll want to work with a Lake Oconee Builders Association member and choose a reputable builder. We recommend you interview several builders (not just one) and look for the quality of work and the builder's core values, as this will help you make the right decision.

The building process can be stressful, so your builder must have your best interest in mind and bring your vision to life, not just their bottom line.

Choose A Builder That Works By Phases

Have you heard the expression, "Measure twice, cut once"? This couldn't be truer in the building process, not just in the physical phase of construction but also in the planning and design phase. You should look for a builder who conducts a thorough pre-construction and design phase and completes a needs assessment during this phase.

They should have a checklist of many features in a home that you might have yet to consider. Their job is to ensure all bases are covered before you start to go vertical. This will help you stay on budget and keep the building process moving.

Limit Changes

Changes during construction can affect not only the budget but also the timeline, so you’ll want to limit changes once construction starts. As the timeline progresses (decreases), the cost of potential changes increases (increases).

Will changes happen? Sure, but your builder should have prepared you well during the pre-construction phase to help protect your budget and timeline. So, although there are occasions when changes will happen, limiting them when you can is important.

Don’t Be Hasty About Moving In

Avoid trying to move in before all of the work is finished. Some builders offer arrangements where you can begin moving in early, which can cause chaos and often lead to poor quality or lingering punch-list items for months.

The last 5% of the construction phase can be very busy, with many trade partners working simultaneously to finish the home, such as painters, cleaners, electricians, plumbers, etc. Trust your builder when they say they are not ready for you to move in yet. A quality builder will want to deliver a finished product and move you into a clean, finished home.

Ensure Communication Channels Remain Open

Ask your potential builder how they will communicate with you during the pre-construction and construction. You should select a builder that uses a software platform with a construction focus.

Avoid a builder who communicates only via texts and emails. This is a recipe for miscommunication—and disaster—among the field, the office staff, the design team, upper management, and you.

These miscommunications can cause delays and potential additional costs. Your building team should not be one person you text. It takes a 'village' to bring your vision to life, and construction-based software can streamline communication.

Weather and Seasonality’s Impact on Home Construction

One of the best custom home ideas you should heed is building based on the weather and seasonality. Weather and seasonality play a significant role in the home-building timeline in Georgia's Lake Country. Rainy seasons, especially in spring and summer, can delay site preparation and foundation work due to soggy ground conditions.

On the other hand, extreme summer heat may also slow progress during roofing or exterior work, prompting builders to focus on indoor tasks during peak heat. Additionally, seasonal demand for construction peaks in spring and summer, as many homeowners aim to complete projects before the holidays or school year, potentially extending timelines.

That’s why starting your project during the off-season, like late fall or winter, can help avoid these delays and increase builder availability. An experienced builder in the Lake Oconee area will anticipate weather challenges, plan for contingencies, and adjust schedules to keep the process moving efficiently.

Contact PAXISgroup Today For Your Lake Oconee, GA Home Building Needs

On average, you now know how long it takes to build a home in Lake Oconee, GA, but you don’t know how to design a custom home, what dream home features you should include in your design, or the best dream home design ideas to consider.

That’s where we come in. Our team of reliable builders at PAXISgroup strives to continually build a Lake Oconee home on time based on the construction schedule we share with our clients. We’re communicative, respected, experienced, and talented, so you can trust your home will be exactly what you envision.